Busy summer for lifeguards

LIFEGUARDS at Himatangi Beach have earned their keep this summer as sweltering conditions continue to attract hundreds of swimmers to Manawatu’s leading seaside playground.


Palmerston North Surf Club’s head lifeguard Trent Cutts said up to 500 swimmers at a time had been hitting the surf, with the paid and voluntary lifeguards needing to be on full alert for any problems.


Despite the high numbers, however, only eight rescues had been carried out since Christmas Eve, with the majority of swimmers showing greater responsibility regarding water safety. A few first aid cases involving cuts and grazes had also been logged.


“We’ve had a lot of preventative actions and moving people back between the flags because of the drift,” said Mr Cutts. “Generally, their behaviour has been good, though there is the odd uneducated person who takes a lilo into a calm patch and soon finds they are heading out to sea.”


Mr Cutts said one of the most challenging days had been for a Big Day event when about 2000 people had descended on the beach.


“It’s important to have lifeguards on days like that because there is so much happening,” he said. “It’s been one of the best seasons for many years for surf, as normally you get cross-waves and conditions can become really dangerous.”


Mr Cutts said Himatangi Beach was viewed as “Palmerston North’s beach”, and if it was a nice day in the city then many of its residents would take the 20-minute drive to Himatangi.


Regional guards handle weekday duties at Himatangi Beach until February 1, with volunteers taking over at the weekends.


Mr Cutts said lifeguard numbers for Palmerston North were good, with about 30 juniors recently joining, and he was appreciative of the ongoing funding support provided by the Manawatu District Council’s Partnership Fund.


Community and Strategic Development Officer Tracey Hunt said the partnership between club and council enabled provision of a valued service that ensured community safety.


“And the importance of such a partnership has been emphasised this summer with so many people enjoying the ideal swimming conditions,” she said.


Himatangi Beach is a relatively safe swimming spot because of its flatness, but swimmers are urged to keep between the flags, ask the lifeguards where to swim and not to swim alone.


Lifeguard patrol statistics for Himatangi Beach


Voluntary patrols (weekends)

Hours worked: 848

Rescues: 7

First aids: 2

Searches: 0

Preventative actions: 323



Regional guards (weekdays)

Hours worked: 390

Rescues: 1

First aids: 2

Searches: 0

Preventative actions: 179